I’m sharing these photos of my little girl to spare others our agony
WHEN mum Sophie Lebner noticed her daughter had watery eyes one Sunday evening, she hoped she wasn't coming down with conjunctivitis.
But the next day, little Lottie woke up with a red crusty eye.
After a visit to the chemist, it was recommended that the eight-month-old was treated with saline solution to clear it up.
But less than 24 hours later, Lottie's condition worsened and she was rushed to the emergency department.
By the Wednesday she was having a lumber puncture after it was found she had been infected with the Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV).
Now Sophie is sharing photos of her daughter so that other parents don't have to go through the same agony her and her husband Ben endured.
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She said that she hadn't been aware that if a baby under the age of six months comes into contact with a cold sore - it can be life threatening.
"We didn't...and little 8-week-old Lottie has had to suffer," she told CPR Kids.
The NHS refers to the condition as neonatal herpes and said this can be serious for a young baby, as their immune systems are not yet fully developed - so they are not able to fight off the virus.
It can be passed on if a person with a cold sore kisses the baby.
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Sophie said that Lottie developed two small red pimple like spots on her left hand from where she had been rubbing her red eye.
Initially, she said she thought she might have Hand Foot and Mouth, but an hour later Lottie had become irritable and upset, and nothing could console her.
It was then she was told to go to the emergency department, where she had to wait an hour and a half.
The first doctor the family saw, said as Lottie didn't have a high temperature, she would be fine to go home.
But Sophie questioned this as she was concerned her daughter had an eye infection and could be left with permanent damage.
Sophie said: "That doctor then proceeded to phone the paediatrician who requested pictures of Lottie's eye... within half an hour the paediatrician arrived at the hospital where he asked me if anyone could have had a cold sore around Lottie, I said yes. Lottie's dad had had a cold sore that week.
"He immediately told me about HSV and the danger it posed.
"For an infant HSV, within days of exposure can spread to the brain and to the organs, causing permanent damage and death if left untreated."
What is the Herpes Simplex Virus?
The Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) or neonatal herpes is an infection in young babies.
Babies can catch the virus in pregnancy, labour and after birth.
The NHS says that during pregnancy and labour, a baby can catch HSV if you have had genital herpes for the first time within the last 6 weeks of your pregnancy.
After birth it can be passed on to baby through a cold sore if a person has one and kissed baby.
The NHS added: "The herpes virus can also be spread to your baby if you have a blister caused by herpes on your breast and you feed your baby with the affected breast or expressed breast milk from the affected breast."
Baby is most at risk of getting the infection in the first four weeks after birth.
The warning signs in babies are:
- lethargy or irritable
- not feeding
- high temperature
- rash or sores on the skin and inside the mouth.
If your baby has any of these you should see your GP or call 111.
You should call 999 if your little one is:
- is lacking in energy (listless)
- is becoming floppy and unresponsive
- is difficult to wake up from sleep
- has breathing difficulties or starts grunting
- breathes rapidly
- has a blue tongue and skin (cyanosis) – if they have brown or black skin this may be easier to see on their lips, tongue and gums, under their nails and around their eyes
Lottie was connected to an IV of antivirals immediately.
Then the next day she was transferred to a specialist children's hospital.
It was there that a lumber puncture was performed along with multiple blood tests.
It was confirmed that Lottie had HSV and medics said that it was lucky they had caught the illness before it had travelled any further.
"Had we not questioned the doctor further, had we have gone home, had we of waited even hours more to act, there was a high chance that we may have lost Lottie and that she is a real success story.
"For now Lottie is on the mend, still smiling and on a course of 14 days IV antivirals followed by 6 months of oral antivirals, weekly paediatric appointments and blood tests," Sophie said.
Sophie added that 95 per cent of friends and family they had told had no idea of the risks.
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While the mum has shared her story to make others aware, she has also praised her husband, who she said blamed himself for little Lottie having become unwell.
"Ben wishes for everyone to be aware of the risks, he never wants anyone to feel the guilt that himself or sickness that Lottie has encountered," she added.
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